Examining the Business Impact of Owner Commitment to Sustainability

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish a research mechanism to investigate the impact of corporate commitment to sustainability on capital project planning and capital project performance. The research hypothesized that increasing commitment to sustainability leads to increasing sustainable project planning, and to better cost and schedule performances in large projects. Two sustainability indices, CSCI and SCPPI, were used to determine the level of corporate sustainability commitment and its impact on sustainability practices in capital project planning, and the impacts of corporate sustainability commitment and sustainable practices in project planning on cost and schedule performances, design changes, and safety compliances. Limited data collected from 17 Fortune 100 owner organizations suggested that a relationship between the two indices existed and that there are strong grounds supporting further development of such sustainability indices. Such indices can help multinational corporations better allocate resources and strike a balance between sustainable practices and financial bottom line.